Haul of awards for Shropshire cheesemakers

Whitchurch-based Belton Cheese won more than 40 awards at the Nantwich International Cheese Show.

The company won 21 gold awards, including for its white Cheshire cheese, red Leicester cheese, traditional Derby cheese and traditional Wensleydale cheese.

The company also won an award for being the exhibitor winning the highest number of points overall.

Meanwhile, the Shropshire Cheese Company, which is based near Oswestry, won a silver award for its blue cheese, while Applebys, which is based near Prees, won a gold award in the territorial cheese crumbly class.

Alison Taylor, marketing manager from Belton Cheese, said: "We are absolutely delighted to win so many awards.

"We have exhibited at the show for many years and it is a very important show."

The cheese awards form part of the Nantwich Show, the main day of which was being held yesterday when the public was then invited to try and buy the award-winning cheeses. Organisers say they expect to beat last year's record-breaking total of 4,615 entries from 274 different exhibitors and 31 countries.

Cheese awards judging took place on Tuesday when a trade day lunch was also staged for more than 1,000 dairy industry professionals.

A host of famous cheese makers and chefs also attended the show including TV chef James Martin and former Coronation Street star Sean Wilson.

For further information about Nantwich Show visit to www.nantwichshow.co.uk